Google Lens can tell diners what to order at restaurants

Consumers can point their phone camera at a menu and the mobile feature will highlight popular meals with ratings and reviews from online platforms, a development that could reduce restaurants' control of their messaging.  

By Alicia Kelso • May 8, 2019

Google Maps trials crowdsourced images of restaurant dishes

The new app feature appears to aggregate photos of meals from submissions and reviews to match an image to a menu offering.

By Lauren Manning • May 7, 2019

Starbucks taps Microsoft ML for weather, inventory-based order suggestions

The developments with Microsoft are part of a five-year strategy, which includes investigating disruptive technology and creating proprietary solutions. 

By Samantha Schwartz • May 7, 2019

Domino's turns to blockchain-based AI solution to scale operations

The chain's Malaysia and Singapore division has partnered with SingularityNET to deploy artificial intelligence services across its network as it looks to beef up its business in the region. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 6, 2019

Booking Holdings acquires guest management platform Venga

The move lets OpenTable's restaurant clients create comprehensive diner profiles that include eating preferences and spend and order history. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • May 6, 2019

Why more chains are turning to virtual kitchens

Restaurants like Dog Haus and Chick-fil-A are launching units minus dining areas to grow off-premise sales without overburdening in-store operations.

By Julie Littman • May 3, 2019

Uber Eats, Deliveroo look to diversify with click-and-collect

Uber Eats launched an in-app option called Pick-Up in select U.S. cities earlier this year, while Deliveroo announced in February it will deploy its own version.

By Alicia Kelso • April 30, 2019

Sirved launches visual menu database app

The app makes photos one of its main search features for over 400,000 restaurants and aggregates reviews from multiple sources, including Yelp, Google and Facebook.

By Lauren Manning • April 30, 2019

Drone delivery may be on the cusp of a breakthrough

The NPD Group predicts many restaurants in Great Britain will use drone delivery by 2024, while Google's drone operator just received approval from the FAA in the U.S. 

By Alicia Kelso • April 29, 2019

Domino's tests GPS delivery tracking in Phoenix

The technology lets customers follow drivers on a map via app or online and receive real-time mobile notifications, and helps managers increase store operation efficiencies. 

By Emma Liem Beckett • April 29, 2019

59% of restaurant operators fear disruption by mobile-savvy rivals

An Oracle study found a vast majority of operators believe that guest-facing mobile apps can reduce labor costs and improve speed of service.

By Alicia Kelso • April 23, 2019

How McDonald's super sizes its data for an optimized supply chain

The restaurant giant will use artificial intelligence to change its drive-thru menus, enabling new capabilities behind the scenes in demand planning.

By Craig Guillot • April 23, 2019

McDonald's bets personalization will keep diners lovin' it

The fast food giant's $300 million acquisition of Dynamic Yield reflects growing diner demand for engaging, digitally tailored brand interactions, says Wi5 CEO Prask Sutton. 

By Prask Sutton • April 16, 2019

Panera's new tech could make breakfast rise and shine

Breakfast delivery has grown 250% at the chain, which is launching an Amazon Go-like tap and pay system, new portable morning foods and a revamped coffee program to better target diners on the go. 

By Julie Littman • April 15, 2019

KFC parodies influencers with CGI hipster Colonel Sanders

The chain handed its Instagram account over to the "Virtual Influencer Colonel" and partnered with Dr. Pepper, TurboTax and Old Spice for the campaign.

By Robert Williams • April 11, 2019

Caffè Nero cracks open Easter egg hunt for app users

The campaign returns for a second year after spurring 100,000 app downloads and 300,000 "egg-agements" in 2018.

By Robert Williams • April 11, 2019

Restaurant website developer BentoBox gains over $16M in funding

The tech company has now garnered over $23 million in funding and plans to develop online ordering, POS and reservation features — reflecting restaurant demand for enhanced consumer-facing technology.

By Alicia Kelso • April 11, 2019

It's not just McDonald's — restaurant CIOs are hungry for tech

"It's hard to look cool if you've got a pager that was from the 1980s still in use," said the founder of Aaron Allen & Associates. 

By Samantha Schwartz • April 11, 2019

Uber Eats boosts delivery tracker transparency with colorful animations

The redesigned platform includes a five-step tracking bar and a "latest arrival time by" update in addition to the typical order ETA.

By Kevin Whiteley • April 11, 2019

Why McDonald's is supersizing its tech spending

The QSR giant bought a technology company and invested in a mobile app developer in just a week, signaling an aggressive focus on its drive-thru sales and digital offerings.

By Julie Littman • April 5, 2019

Uber Eats lands first airport partnership

If the pilot, which brings travelers food from airport restaurants to their gate, is successful, it could bring the delivery firm a new path to growth. 

By Kevin Whiteley • April 5, 2019

Deliveroo to offer London riders electric scooter rentals

The third-party delivery company partnered with electric scooter rental platform Elmovo to launch the program, which comes just days before the city rolls out new Ultra-Low Emission Zone regulations.

By Kevin Whiteley • April 4, 2019

Chipotle spurs 5x surge in loyalty app downloads, analyst says

Within a week of the nationwide rollout​, Chipotle Rewards registered its one-millionth member, according to an industry analyst at Barclays Capital.

By Robert Williams • April 3, 2019

Toast scores $250M in new funding round

The cash infusion led by Tiger Global Management and TCV comes on the heels of a $115 million round less than a year ago, bringing the restaurant software firm's total valuation to $2.7 billion.

By Alicia Kelso • April 2, 2019

EzCater secures $150M in funding, surpasses $1.2B valuation

The catering platform plans to expand into new regions, acquire companies and add features to help support the growing off-premise industry. 

By Julie Littman • April 2, 2019